Box Score

USDvsSCUjan12

San Diego, Calif. -- The USD Toreros dropped a 59-57 heartbreaker to the visiting Santa Clara Broncos before 1,435 fans that included 450 recruits from the Marine Corp Recruiting Depot in San Diego. Brett Bailey led the Toreros with 15 points and 9 rebounds, but his put-back bucket for an eventual overtime period was a split second too late at the end of the game. Santa Clara received a big night from senior guard Jared Brownridge who scored a game-high 20 points.

In the first half the Santa Clara Broncos jumped out to a 5-0 start and eventual 11-2 advantage in the first seven minutes of the game. USD struggled out of the gates making just 1-of-7 shots from the field to go with 3 turnovers. A Brett Bailey dunk and Juwan Gray three from the right corner pulled USD to within 14-7, but SCU's Jared Brownridge hit his second straight trey to make it 17-7 with 11:28 to go.

Down 22-11 at one point, a three-point play by Cameron Neubauer pulled USD to within 22-15, but Santa Clara's Henrik Jadersten answered with his own old-fashioned three-point play. Brownridge would add another three from the left corner to make it 28-17. Following a Brownridge trey, his fourth of the half, USD's Olin Carter III buried a jumper and Mark Carbone netted a three ball to make it 34-26 with 2:39 to go. A Carter three would get USD within 35-29 at the break after being down by as many as 13 (34-21, 3:46). Brownridge led the first half with 15 points, while the Toreros were paced by Cameron Neubauer with 8 points.

Five minutes into the 2nd half USD would get within 40-39 following a Carter three-pointer and free throw from Tyler Williams. A Cameron Neubauer jumper would get USD within 42-41, but the Broncos would jump out ahead by six on two more occasions. A Juwan Gray three ball and lay-in would get USD within 49-48 at the 7:46 mark. A dunk followed by a three-point play inside by Brett Bailey would give USD its first lead of the game at 53-51.

A three-pointer from Carter with 5:15 left gave USD a 56-53 lead, but SCU's Matt Hauser would score on a lay-up and later add two free throws to knot the score at 57-all with 2:29 left. Over the final 1:30 of the game the only points would come from Brownridge on a lay-up with 1:07 to go. USD, which ranked No. 24 in free throw percentage in the nation coming into the game, missed their final four attempts.

Following a Brett Bailey blocked shot on Brownridge, USD called timeout with 19 ticks. Olin Carter's three-point attempt with about 5 seconds left was off the mark, but Bailey grabbed it and his game tying basket was reviewed by the referees but called off shortly after the game.

For the game USD shot 50.0% from the field (19-38); made 6-of-18 treys, but converted just 13-of-20 free throws. Neubauer and Carter joined Bailey in double-digit scoring with 11 points. For Santa Clara (9-9, 3-2 WCC), Brownridge was followed by guards KJ Feagin (19 points) and Matt Hauser (10 points).

The Toreros showed a lot of class after the tough loss by going up into the stands to thank and shake hands with numerous MCRD recruits for their support, as well as their service to our country. USD returns to the JCP this Saturday, Jan. 14th, to host the BYU Cougars (13-5, 4-1 WCC). Game time is slated for 7:05 pm.